Brexit and our Environment

The Brexit negotiations pose many threats and opportunities for UK environmental protection and our urgent transition into a low-carbon nation.

If red-tape slashing vested interests get the upper hand, vital protections for our wild life, countryside and seas will be swept aside. Also support for changing our industries, energy supplies, homes and lifestyles into the low-carbon future we need to avoid dangerous climate change.

There are opportunities to improve on EU regulations with better ones appropriate to the UK. For example the Common Agricultural Policy could be replaced with support for landowners and farmers, especially smaller ones, with the right incentives to take good care of the wildlife and land they know so well, as well as growing the food we love. A majority of British public support environmental protection at least as strong as current EU rules.

Uncertainty and frequent sudden changes are bad for business, as for several local firms installing renewables and home-energy improvements that have been forced to close recently by the chopping and changing government support schemes. Brexit is going to take years, so how can we help reduce the damaging uncertainty?

Cambridge Carbon Footprint is a member The Climate Coalition, who with Green Alliance, are today calling on MPs to support an Environment Pledge, below.
If a majority of MPs sign, that will indicate good support for strong action on these issues and reduce the uncertainty.

I believe that following the EU referendum, the UK government, working with administrations in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, must build a healthy and prosperous future for all.

This means a thriving natural world on land and at sea, clean air and water, communities connected to nature, and a sustainable economy. For the wellbeing of my constituents, for people at home and abroad, and for future generations who will depend on a flourishing and secure planet, I will do everything in my power to:

Establish the UK as a world leader on the environment by committing to match or exceed current environmental, wildlife and habitat protections.